Applicator



Patented Oct. 31, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,361,407 APrLIcAToR Joseph McNair, Garfield, N. J. Application August 11, 1942, Serial No. 454,407

" Claims. -(Cl. -134) This invention relates to applicators and while not limited thereto, the invention is particularly directed to an improved applicator for dispensing, applying and distributing fluid or semi-fluid substances to shoes, clothing and the like in theprocess of cleaning the same.

The invention broadly comprehends an applicator which is so constructed and arranged as to provide an endless applicator face surrounding a recessed central area provided with an outlet .port remote from the applicator face and through which port the substance tobe applied is discharged directly upon the article to be cleaned.

More particularly the invention contemplatesan applicator consisting of a cap for a container which cap is provided with a yieldable resilient cushion element surrounding a recessed central area having a discharge port, the cushion element having a flexible covering adapted to be used for distributing the cleaning substance dispensed through the discharge port.

The invention further resides in the provision of means for detachably associatingan applicator member with a container closure cap so that the covering element thereof may be removed and replaced when worn or otherwise unfit for further use. l

As a still further object, the invention concerns an applicator of the indicated character which embodies a capillary outlet port by virtue of which the cleaning substance may be dispensed directly onto the article .to be cleaned without initial contact with the applicator, surface, by

agitating the container to efiect the intake of air and mixture thereof with the cleaning substance within the container and then by inverting and shaking the container to thereby discharge the aerated cleaning substance through the outlet port.

With the foregoing and other objects in view,

. of the invention.

parts of the applicator showing the same in separated juxtaposition.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional-view of a modisure B having a sealing disc or gasket C located within the marginal flange ill and beneath the end wall ll thereof to seat against the mouth of the bottle. H

In this instance, the closure cap B constitutes the base of or the mounting for the applicator member and the end wall H and the gasket C are provided with aligned openings !2 and I3.

The applicator member further includes acushion element I l, of sponge rubber or any equivalent yielda-ble material, the diameter of which corresponds generally to thatof the closure cap B and is seated upon the endwall H thereof. The

cushion element M, as shown, is of annular formation and defines a central opening l5 of appreciably greater size than the opening l2 and has its flat lower face seated upon the end Wall of the cap, A flexible covering, element l6, ,such as a velour or similar .pile fabric material, is detachably secured to the apertured central portion of the end Wallll of the cap by detachable means of connection, such as a snap fastener D, the

.depending headed shank ll of which extends reference is now made to the following specification and accompanying drawingin which is illustrated the preferred forms of the invention.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a collective perspective view of an applicator constructed in accordance with the invention and illustrating the same in applied position on a bottle and with a cover therefor shown in separated juxtaposition.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view through the applicator and neck of the bottle and with the cover in applied position.

Fig. 3 is a collective perspective view of the through a central opening IS in the covering element lfi and frictionally engages with the cap opening l2. The snap fastener is formed with a flange l9 at the upper end of the shank ll, which flange is of a diameter to snugly fit within the central opening E5 of the cushion element l4, so as to clamp the central portion of the covering element against the end wall of the cap. Thesnap fastener D is formed with anaxially extending capillary discharge portZll, through which the cleaning substance is adapted to be dispensed. After the central portion of the covering element l6 has been clamped to the end wall l I of the cap, the remaining portion is drawn snugly over the cushion element I4 and the margin thereof isdisposed'in surrounding relation to the flange ll] of the'c'ap and is secured in place by a ring 2|, embracing the marginal portion of which includes an elongated the covering element and clamping the same against said cap flange. This serves to hold the covering and cushion elements in place and provides the applicator member with a recessed central portion or well 22 in the face thereof with the discharge port 26 located at the bottom of the well and remote from the applicator face so that the substance may be discharged from the port 20 directly upon. the article to be cleaned. This is accomplished by agitating the container to efiect the intake of air and the mixture thereof with the cleaning substance in the container,

after which the container is inverted and shaken the previous form with the exception that in this instance the central portion of the flexible covering element It is permanently secured to theapertured central portion of the end wall II by means of a rivet or grommet F instead of the snap fastener D. In this form the rivet or grommet includes a tubular shank '25 extending through the central opening l2 of the end wall- H and the opening N3 of the covering element IS, the bore of the rivet or grommet defining a discharge port 25 through which the cleaning substance is adapted to be dispensed. The rivet or grommet is formed with upper and lower flanges 21 and 28, the upper flange 21 being of 'adiameter to snugly fit within, the central opening l5 of the cushion element l4. As shown a supplemental washer or gasket G having a central opening 29, is employed in addition to the washer or gasket C.

In the modification of the invention shown in Figure 5, the applicator member is illustrated as havin a, base in the form of a dual purpose plastic cap H which includes an end wall 30" formed with depending concentric internally threaded annular flanges 3| and 32, the former being disposedat the margin of the end wall and the latter in closely spaced relation to a central opening 33 in said end wall. This ar-' rangement permits the cap to be screwed onto the threaded necks of containers of difierent sizes. In this formthe cushion element l4 and covering element I6 are precisely the same as in vention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive and the openings in the gaskets G and K in the form illustrated in Figs. 4 and'5 are capillary in size so that the substance is discharged therefrom in small drops or globules.

A clamping ring 39 embraces the marginal portion of the covering element and clamps the same against the outer marginal flange 3| of the cap. A headed plug All is positioned in the discharge ports of the applicators to close the ports when the applicators are not in use.

What is claimed is:

I. In an applicator, a closure cap including an end wall having an opening therein and a flange adapted to engage the neck of a container for covering the mouth thereof, a facing of pile material defining anapplicator element, a yieldable resilient cushion located between the applicator element and the end wall of the cap and having an outwardly flared central opening therein, a band engaging about the flange of the cap and releaseably securing the marginal portion of said applicator element between the flange of the cap and said band, and retaining means consisting of a shank having a flanged outer end engaged against the outer face of said applicator element within and at the bottom of said flared opening in the cushion with said shank extending through an opening in said applicator element and engaging said opening in the end wall of the cap for securing the applicator element against the end wall of the-cap centrally thereof and the resilient cushion between the applicator element and the marginal portion of the end wall and providing a recessed central portion in the face of the applicator element and said retaining means having an opening therethrough centrally of said recessed portion through which material in the container is adapted to be dispensed.

2. In an applicator, a closure cap including an end wall having an opening therein and a flange adapted to engage the neck of a container for covering the mouth thereof, a facing of pile fabric defining an applicator element, a yieldable resilient cushion located between the applicator element and the end wall of the cap and having an outwardly flared central opening therein, a band engaging about the flange of the cap and releasably securing the marginal portion of said applicator element between the flange of the cap I and said band, and retaining means consisting of the first form but the detachablemeans of con-'" neetion for securing the central portion of the covering element to the end wall 30 of the cap H is slightly different from the fastener D and consists of a stud element J having an axially extending aperture 35 constituting a discharge dispensing the cleaning substance and V tapered shank 36 frictionally fittin in the opening 33 in the end port for wall 30 and provided at its upper end with a,

fiange3'l of a size to fit within the opening l5 ofthe cushion element I4 and engaging with and clamping the aperturedwcentral portion of the covering element l6 against the central portion of the end wall 30 of the cap H.

A washer or gasket K having a central open- ,ing. 38 is disposed against the underside of the wall 30 within the flange 32 with the opening 38 in alignment with the discharge port 35.

Thedischarge port 28 in the form ofthe ina shank having a flanged outer end engaging against the outer face of said applicator element within and'at the bottom of said flared opening in the cushion and said shank extending through an opening in said applicator element and engaging said opening in the end wall of the cap and having an enlarged inner end for securing the retaining means in said opening in the end wall and the applicator element against the end wall of the cap and the resilient cushion between the applicator element and the marginal portion of the end wall and providing a recessed central portion in the face of the applicator element and said retaining means having an opening therethrough forming a discharge port at the capillary discharge port and including a headed stud frictionally engaging within the opening in the end wall of the cap and having a flange clamping the central portion-of the covering element against the end wall of the cap and within the confines of the cushion element and a ring engaging with and clamping the marginal portion of the covering element in surrounding relation to the flange of the cap and serving to retain the cushion element between the cap and the covering element. l I

4. In combination with a container closure cap including an end Wall having a central opening and a marginal flange, of an applicator member associated therewith including a centrally apertured covering element of flexible material, an annular yieldable resilient cushion element seated uponthe end wall of the cap, a rivet having a discharge outlet and extending through the openings in the end wall of the cap and the covering element and having flanged ends respectively engaging inside the end wall of the cap and against the outer face of the covering element and clamping the central portion of the covering element against the end wall of the cap within the confines of the cushion element so as to recess said central portion of the covering element from the outer face of the applicator member, and a ring frictionally engaging with and clamping the marginal portion of the covering element in surrounding relation to the flange of the cap and serving to retain the cushion element between the cap and the covering member.

' 5. In an applicator, a container closure cap including an end Wall having a central opening and a marginal flange, a centrally apertured covering of flexible material providing an applicator element, an annular yieldable resilient cushion element seated upon the end wall of the cap, a fastening element having a tapered shank frictionally fitting in the opening in the cap and having a headed outer end engaging against the central portion of the applicator element so as to clamp the applicator element against the outer face of the end wall of the cap within the confines of the cushion element and to recess said central portion of the applicator element, and means engaging with and clamping the marginal portion of the V applicator element in surrounding relation to the flange of the cap and serving to retain the cushion element between the cap and the applicator element, and said fastening element having an opening therein providing a discharge port for dispensing material through the applicator.

JOSEPH MONAIR. 

